SOCON Landscape 2025-26

[FUBF24]

This is now my third year starting this thread, a little late this time since UTC just won the NIT...

Here are my initial thoughts.

Tier 1: Contenders
1. Chattanooga (assuming everyone stays, probably won't happen)
2. Furman

Tier 2: Could be dangerous
3. Samford
4. VMI
5. ETSU

Tier 3: Work to do
6. UNCG
7. Wofford
8. Western Carolina

Tier 4: Bottom feeders
9. Mercer
10. The Citadel

SoCon award predictions
POTY: Honor Huff (UTC) OR Cooper Bowser (Furman)
Coach of the Year: Bob Richey (Furman, would be his first!)
Newcomer of the Year: No clue

1st team all-SoCon
Honor Huff (UTC)
Rickie Bradley Jr. (VMI)
Tom House (Furman)
Marcus Kell (WCU)
Cooper Bowser (Furman)

These predictions will probably be totally wrong. Oh well.

... from last year, I correctly had Chattanooga in the top 2, the Citadel in the bottom two, Furman and Wofford in the 5-6 range. I also correctly predicted Jaden Seymour and Honor Huff in the all-SoCon first team.

[MNORM]

This is now my third year starting this thread, a little late this time since UTC just won the NIT...

Here are my initial thoughts.

Tier 1: Contenders
1. Chattanooga (assuming everyone stays, probably won't happen)
2. Furman

Tier 2: Could be dangerous
3. Samford
4. VMI
5. ETSU

Tier 3: Work to do
6. UNCG
7. Wofford
8. Western Carolina

Tier 4: Bottom feeders
9. Mercer
10. The Citadel

SoCon award predictions
POTY: Honor Huff (UTC) OR Cooper Bowser (Furman)
Coach of the Year: Bob Richey (Furman, would be his first!)
Newcomer of the Year: Abijah Franklin

1st team all-SoCon
Honor Huff (UTC)
Rickie Bradley Jr. (VMI)
Tom House (Furman)
Marcus Kell (WCU)
Cooper Bowser (Furman)

These predictions will probably be totally wrong. Oh well.

... from last year, I correctly had Chattanooga in the top 2, the Citadel in the bottom two, Furman and Wofford in the 5-6 range. I also correctly predicted Jaden Seymour and Honor Huff in the all-SoCon first team.

I'll throw this out there....